nounEtymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French espurge, spurge, from espurger to clean out, purge, from Latin expurgare — more at expurgateDate: 14th century
any of a family (Euphorbiaceae) of widely distributed herbs, shrubs, and trees often with a bitter milky juice; especiallyeuphorbia

spurge — spərj n any of various mostly shrubby plants (family Euphorbiaceae, the spurge family, and esp. genus Euphorbia) that have a bitter milky juice and that include several which have been used medicinally see IPECAC SPURGE … Medical dictionary

Spurge — (sp[^u]rj), v. t. [Etymol. uncertain.] To emit foam; to froth; said of the emission of yeast from beer in course of fermentation. [Obs.] W. Cartright. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

spurge — [spʉrj] n. [ME &LT; MFr espurge &LT; espurger, to purge &LT; L expurgare: see EXPURGATE] any of a genus (Euphorbia) of plants of the spurge family, with milky juice and minute, simplified flowers borne in cuplike inflorescences adj. designating a … English World dictionary

spurge — plant species, late 14c., from O.Fr. espurge, from espurgier to purge, from L. expurgare, from ex out + purgare to purge (see PURGE (Cf. purge)). So called from the plant s purgative properties … Etymology dictionary

spurge — ► NOUN ▪ a plant or shrub with milky latex and small greenish flowers. ORIGIN Old French espurge, from Latin expurgare cleanse (because of the purgative properties of the milky latex) … English terms dictionary

Spurge — This unusual and interesting name is of early medieval English origin, and is a topographical surname denoting residence by a place where the species of plant called spurge grew in abundance. The name derives from the Middle English word spurge … Surnames reference

spurge — n. any plant of the genus Euphorbia, exuding an acrid milky juice once used medicinally as a purgative. Phrases and idioms: spurge laurel any shrub of the genus Daphne, esp. D. laureola, with small yellow flowers. Etymology: ME f. OF espurge f.… … Useful english dictionary